In a battle of Eurocup powerhouses in recent years, Banvit Bandirma moved up to 3-2 in Group G by downing VEF Riga 83-64 at home on Wednesday. Sammy Mejia and Chuck Davis paced the winners with 15 points apiece. E.J. Rowland added 14 for Banvit. Kenan Barjamovic led VEF with 12 points. Derrick Nix added 11 for the guests, which dropped to 2-3. VEF battled hard in the opening minutes of the game and trailed 28-23 early in the second quarter. Mejia led a 9-0 run that put Banvit way ahead for good, 37-23. Banvit kept a safe 39-25 margin at halftime and extended it to 65-42 after 30 minutes. VEF kept trying but only trimmed its deficit once the outcome was clear.

Mejia got Banvit going with a jumper and 6 unanswered points by Erkan Veyseloglu forced VEF to call timeout at 8-2. A three-point play by Rowland and a bomb from downtown by Ermal Kuqo soon allowed Banvit to break the game open, 18-4. Nix and Arturs Strelnieks allowed VEF to get a bit closer, 22-14, after 10 minutes. Klemen Prepelic and Davis stepped up for Banvit but Dee Brown and Barjamovic brought VEF even closer, 28-23. Mejia and Prepelic led a 9-0 run that boosted Banvit's lead to 37-23. Arturs Berzins and Rowland traded baskets to fix the halftime score at 39-25. Barjamovic struck from downtown right after the break and Nix added consecutive baskets but VEF only managed to trade baskets now. Mejia had 6 points in a 9-0 run that kept Banvit way out of trouble, 52-34. Jahovics and Barjamovic struck from downtown but Banvit kept scoring fluently. Rowland, Dusan Kantekin and Cehver Ozer allowed the hosts to make it a 23-point game, 65-42, after 30 minutes. A three-pointer by Ozer gave Banvit its biggest lead, 70-45, with 7 minutes remaining. Anzejs Pasecniks and Janis Berzins stepped up for VEF and a three-pointer by Kristaps Janicenoks - his only points tonight - brought VEF within 75-62 with under 4 minutes left. Davis shined in the final minutes to make sure Banvit rounded a very important home win.